Method and apparatus for eliminating sinker lines and the like in hosiery



Dec. 20, 1938. H. P. LUHN 2,140,936 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR"ELIMINATING SINKER LiNES AND THE LIKE IN HOSIERY Filed Aug. 6, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l 56 55 5o 52B 72 44 o 71 I 1 .I 46 I 616062 s 26 I :4 U11: *1 L":

48 3 37 67 39 39B 40 57B 41B 40B INVENTOR Hans P. Luhn BY W WWW Hi5 ATTORNEYS H. P. LUHN Dec. 20, 1938.

2,140,936 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SINKER LINES AND THE LIKE IN HOSIERY e Sheds-Sheet? H U m N m L u m m B m w W5 n I A l a h F w B In a H. P. LUHN Dec. 20, 1938.

E IN HO'SIERY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SINKEH LINES AND THE LIK Filed Aug. e, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 5' INVENTOR. Hams P Lmhvm H1: ATTORNEYS 13 IN HOSIERY H. P. LUHN Dec. 20, 1938;

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SINKE'R LINES AND THE LIK Filed Aug. 6, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Hans P Luhn BY W WwL A/L is ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1938. H, p, L HN 2,140,936

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING SINKER LINES AND THE LIKE IN HOSIERY Filed Aug. 6, 1935 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVQNTOR.

Hans P. Luhn W 1114/7 VW Hm ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1,938.

s-3 D s H. P. LUHN 2,140,936

E IN HOSIERY Fi-led Aug. 6, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 .20 3 er Z INVENTOR.

Hams P. Luhn H ATTORNEYS 1 or dividers, respectively, are not properly aligned either among themselves or with respect to each or dividers have been worn Patented Dec. 20, 1938 7 4 ;140.9 36 UNITED STATES "PAT NT; or lc-s METHOD AND APPARATUS Fon EIJMINAT? mo smxnn uses aunrm: LIKE IN HOSIERY 3 mm P. Luhn, New York, N.

Y assignor' to 1111- proved Products and Machinery Co. Inc., a corporation of New York Application August 6, 1935, Serial No. 34,835

29 Claims.

. This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for producing. knitted fabrics. The methods called "sinker lines" or fabrics. g

.When knitted fabrics are produced on straight knitting machines of ing fabrics are often sinker lines", or needle lines" which detract from the appearance of the fabrics, particularly of sheer fabrics such as hosiery.

These lines are usually caused by the recur-- rence of imperfect loops in corresponding wales of successively knit courses. are imperfect because more tightly or loosely knitted than adjacent loops. The imperfections of particular loops may be minor in extent and not readily measurable nor particularly noticeable at the time they are, drawn. But as'other courses are knit such loops afford contrasts in the fabric with more nearly perfect loops in adjacent wales and spending wales course visually apparent line" in the fabric.

Among the factors giving rise to the production of imperfect loops are the following-thesinkers needle lines other; some sinkers down in use to a greater or lesserextent than adjacent sinkers or dividers; the needles may not all be properly aligned nor same heights; 9. sinker, divider or needle may have its? thread engaging portion so worn as to catch and hold the thread at times when it should be permitting other parts to draw sufficient thread to form even loops. Any of these defects in the loop forming andknitting elements may cause some loops to be more tightly or loosely knit than others because of being formed from and knitted with less or more thread-than loops in'sdiacent wales.

Moreover, even if it were possible to readily locate the defective loop forming andknitting elements which cause imperfect loops the mere replacement of such defective elements would not necessarily result in eliminating the imperfect loops and the resulting sinker or needle lines. This is because the defects in such elements are purely relative. The defects in either needles, sinkers or dividers which have an effect in producingimperfections in the fabric are not necesnrily'related to the departure of the particular element from a new or perfect element but the defect in the condition of the particular element is relative to others adjacent ample, replacement of a suspected sinker by a new sinker would not eliminate the cause of the lines unless the adjacent sinkers and dividers were also new or and apparatus disclosed herein are particularly adapted'for use in eliminating so. in knitted or imperfect as the parts adjacent which it is to the Cotton type the resultfound to have so-called- Usually such. loops same condition of, wear as their repetition in corre-. after course produces a positioned at the thereto. For expractically unworn. [In short,

because of the fact that some parts are worn to a greater or less extent than others, the replacement of any part would require the substitution therefor of apart which is relatively as perfect loops in the same whale of successively knitcourses.

On the other hand, certain points elements such. as 'sinkers or dividers which are defective in the sense, that by wmtny introducing'atthey are not of exactly the same size or in the fabric loops-may are intentionally imperfect; that is loops would be producedwhich would be larger or smaller than those in adjacent wales. Under such conditions, shifting of the loop forming and knitting elements-relativelyto each other will result in producing a pattern in the fabric.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a patterned effect in a fabric by wilfully forming imperfect loopsand-shifting the.

various knitting elements relatively to each other. In carrying out the invention, the positions of the fabric loops relatively to the loop forming and knitting-mechanism are repeatedly varied durthat imperfect ing'formation of the fabric so loops which'ordinarily would occur in the same wale' in successive courses are plurality of wales. Wherethese imperfect loops result from elements which are defective'because of wear or improper alignment, the resulting IOODS (10 not become aligned in such manner as to form aline of imperfect loops contrasting with the loops in adjacent wales. "Wherethe imperfect loops result from fective elements that have adjacent elements; v be caused to. be formed which the action of de y intentionally been dispersed over a introduced intothe machine, the resulting loops are formed into a pattern -ing'of the elements relatively to -eachother as .successive courses are knit.

' In the drawings:

F e portion of a'knitted fabric showing, in' ex'a'gger-F ated form, a sinker or needle line resulting from the recurrence of relatively imperfectdoops in the same wale of successivelyknit courses;

in the fabric by. shift v e l is a dlagrammaticillustration' of "t' Figures 2 to l are similardiagrams illustrating the application of the methods of the present invention to disperse the imperfect loops amonga number of different courses for the. purpose lines" or needle lines by preventing alignment of all the imperfect loops in a single wale.

Figure 8 is a plan view of part of the mech-v wales in successively knit of eliminating the .sinker showing mechanism carrier-rod end-stops and the narrowing rod stops in accordance with the present invention. Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional I view showing mechanism for shifting the needle bar.

Figure 13 is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing mechanism for shifting the needle bar.

Figure 14 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 15.

Figures 15 and 16 are enlarged fragmentary side and front elevations respectively of mesh-r anism for shifting the knockover bits.

Figure 17 is a fragmentary side elevational View, partly in section, illustrating mechanism for shifting the sinkers and dividers longitudinally of the frame with respect to the needles.

Figure 18 is a front elevational view corresponding to Figure 17, certain parts being shown in section.

Figure 19 is a. diagrammatic illustration of a portion of a knitted fabric having a patterned effect produced by intentionally forming imperfect loops in certain wales and varying the positions of the fabric loops relatively to the loop forming and knitting elements after each course is knit.

Figure 20 is a similar diagram of a patterned effect produced by varying the position of the fabric loops relatively to the loop forming and knitting elements after a plurality of courses have been knit.

Figure 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which in certain wales loops are produced of sizes different from those in adjacent wales by replacing certain of the dividers with dividers that are longer than the remainder of the series; and

Figure 22 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating the use for certain wales of sinkers that are longer than the remainder of the series of sinkers.

In Figures 1 to 7 the dots represent fabric loops, their horizontal and vertical alignments, respectively, of the fabric. The heavier dots a exaggeratedly represent imperfectly formed loops produced by improperly aligned, defective or imperfectly operating loop forming and knitting elements. As is apparent from Figure 1, when imperfect loops recur in the same wale of'successively knit courses they align with each other and by contrast with more perfectly formed loops in adjacent wales afford the appearance of a line in the fabric.

Fig'u'res 2 to 7 illustrate dispersion of the imperfect loops over a number of courses so that the contrasting line shown in Figure 1 is broken up.

' The methods In accordance with the invention the imperfect loops are dispersed among a plurality of wales by varying the relative positions of the loops of the fabric and the elements of the machine which form and knit the loops. The invention embraces several methods by which variations in the posiprovided for shifting the representing the courses and wales j 2,140,936 anismsat one end of a full fashioned knitting tions of the fabric loops relatively to the loop forming and knitting elements may be effected. These methods involve changing the positions of the loop forming and knitting elements relatively to the fabric and to each other in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses. These variations may be effected either after the knitting of each course (Figures 2 to 4) or at other intervals during knitting of 1 the fabric (Figures 5-7 l First method One method of eliminating sinker or needle lines in accordance with this invention is to shift the needle bar axially after the knitting of a particular course. The successive shiftings may alternate in direction and vary in extent. Or a number of successive shiftings may be in one direction and other subsequent shiftings in the 2 opposite direction. Thus, when successive courses are formed and knitted, the active needles are disposed in cooperative relation with different sinkers and dividers than those with which they were associated during the knitting of preceding 25 courses.

In shifting the needles the knockover bits may also be shifted therewith. Alternatively, the needles may be withdrawn from between the 'knockover bits before the needles are shifted with respect to the knockover bits, sinkers and dividers.

In following'this method, the end stops for the carrier rods are shifted to the same extent as the needles so that the carriers are maintained properly aligned with the fabric.

When narrowing is to be effected by means of the usual narrowing points, the narrowing rod stops are also shifted in accordance with the shifting of the needles in order to maintain the narrowing points aligned with the fabric.

As a result, the fabric loops are shifted several needle spaces relatively to the sinkers and dividers so that the wale in which an imperfect loop was last formed is similarly displaced from a defective sinker or divider and the defective. element forms loops for the next course in a different wale. Thus, the defective loops are dispersed among several wales.

Second method A second method of eliminating lines in the fabric by varying the relative positions of the fabric loops and the knitting elements is to shift the sinkers and dividers longitudinally of the line of active needles. I

Third method needles has been changed, the relation between the fabric and the thread carriers and narrowing points is the same as in previous courses and it is unnecessary to shift the stops for the carrier rods or the narrowing rods. Alternatively, these parts may be shifted in accordance with the ex- 76 fabric in order to maintain aligned with the fabric.

4 courses.

- and illustration,

'- the relative positions Certain of these methods may be combined and carried out at the same time in order to vary of the loops of the fabric and the knitting elements. That is, the needles, sinkers and dividers may be shifted at the same time and the fabric may also be transferred.

As a result, an infinite variation may be attained in the relative positions between the fabric loops and the knitting elements in forming successive The apparatus in general The apparatus of the invention will be described in conjunction with a full-fashioned knitting machine which is'ofconventional construction except for the provision of such additional mechanisms, or modifications made in the usual mechanisms, as are required. or desirable for carrying out the invention. /....Accordingly, to simplify the present description many of the mechanisms usually embodied in such machines will, if referred to at all, be described only briefly; and generally with reference only to their, function. Tofurther avoid unnecessary description those parts of the'knitting machine which, in a commercial embodiment, would ordinarily be provided in each of the'several sections, at each end of the machine, or elsewhere; will be described herein as though not duplicated. However, it is to be understood that the usual mechanisms and those'particularly appertaining to this terparts as may be required, desirable or convenient. The relationof conventional mechanisms, to those especially provided for the pur-.

poses of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart from the followin description. I

shifting of the needle bar Referring first to Figures 12 to 14: The needles N are mounted in a needle bar ii and supported in the usual cooperative relation with the knock-over bits l2 and the sinkers and dividers. (designated collectively by the numeral i3) by means of the arms |4 secured to the needie bar shaft l5. .In ordinary practice all of the needles are not active. However, if desired, a number of extra sinkers, dividers and. knockover 'bit's'may be provided to accommodate the shifting of the needle bar in accordance with this invention. 1

Shaft I3 is connected with the lever l3 that controls the vertical movement of the needles. It is also providedwith fixed collars l1 (Figure 13) for positioning an internally threaded sleeve ii that is rotatably mounted thereon. The threads of sleeve i3 engage a similarly, but externally, threaded sleeve l3 the part-23 of the machine frame. A third sleeve 2| is rotatable on the fixed sleeve l3 and so mounted on the shaft sleeve l3 as to rotate the latter,wh ile permitting the sleeve I3 to move in opposite directions for displacing shaft l axially.

Such rotative movementsof sleeves 2|, ill to shift the needle bar-shaft Ii take place whenreversely cut ratchets 22 and 23 secured to sleeve 2 are selectively actuated by related pawls operated through a 33A fixed on the main cam shaft 23 of the knit- This cam operated linkage for F linkage 31A by an eccentric cam ting machine. selectively actuating the ratchets 22, 23 to move invention have as many counfixedly mounted in.

the needle bar axially in either direction is identical with that to be presently described as utilized to shift both sets of end-stops for the carrier-rods in the same direction.

Shifting of the carrier-rod end-stops Figure 9, in addition to toward engagementwith their ratchets and are 1 pivotally mounted on opposite bifurcations at the upper end of asuitably guided reciprocable member 31. I The other end of member 31 is also bifurcated to straddle cam shaft 23 and is provided with a'cam roller 33 maintained in engagementwith an eccentric cam 39 secured to the cam shaft. The present invention contemplates that desired variations may be effected in the extent of shifting of the carriefi-rod end-stops, etc. Ac--- cordingly, the portion of the upward stroke of member 31 during which the operative, pawl is permitted to engage determined by cams 43 and 4| controllingthe' pawls 3| and 33, respectively. These cams are removably secured to a stub shaft 43 mounted in the member 31 and having a ratchet 44 fixed thereto. 'A'n arm 43 loosely mounted at one end on stub shaft 43 carries a pawl 46 biased into engagement with ratchet 44. Connected at one end to arm 45 is a link is hegi against movement with connection to a non-rotating collar member 31 as by 48 on cam shaft 23, or to a convenient frame part. The restraint exercised on link 41 by anchoring it at one end causes the arm 45 to pivot on stub shaft 43 as member 31 is raised with the result that pawl 46 actuates ratchet, 44 and advances cams Q 43 and 4| through a certain angle in each cam is formed like and pivoted on the same bifurcation as the tall 53. The difference in the relations of the two pawls to their cams is to attain convenient and smooth the direction of cam movement.

,Although both pawls 3|, 33 may be simultaneously disengaged from theirratchets by the related cams, they are alternatively effective since one causes movement of carrier-rod screw 33 in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. Both pawls may eifect variable movement of the carrier rod stops under the control of their respective cams which. function in like manner.

The cam 43, for example, has raised portions, or

nodes, 33-.which disengage the pawl and intervening dwells 54 that permit its engagement, the

relative proportions of the nodes 53 and dwells 54 determining the period of actuating engagement I For example, if cams 43 and 4| are arranged to be rotated through increments ,of one-tenws and advance its ratchet is 41 which at its other end operation in view of of a revolution or 36 by member 31, the pawls controlled thereby may advance the related ratchets during say, one-third, two-thirds or all of this 36 increment of cam movement, according to the relative extents of the node and dwell in this part of the cam. Thus, a movement of the carrier rod stops over none, all, or a selectively controlled part of a three step range per knitting cycle (course) is provided. Where each step represents two needle spaces the carrier-rod endstops may be shifted two, four or six needle spaces, in either direction according to whether pawl 3i or36 is operating in the idle portion of each knitting'course cycle. The stops for the other ends of the carrier-rods are similarly operated so that both sets are shifted either to right or left at the same time, rather than toward each other, as through pawls 38 for narrowing. The above movement figures are merely illustrative and are not to be considered as limiting the invention inanyway. V ,p

The shifting of the needle bar corresponds with that of the carrier-rod end-stops, as does that of the narrowing stops to maintain the narrowing points positioned in proper alignment with the fabric.v

Shifting of the narrowing stops opposite axial directions to shift both stops in the same direction simultaneously.

The reduced portion 63 of narrowing spindle 68 is journalled in a sleeve bearing 61 to which the ratchets 32B and 33B are secured. The axial position of sleeve 68 with respect to spindle B8 is 01B plunger it that engages maintained by a shoulder 68a on the spindle and a disc 68c secured to the latter and engaging an internal shoulder 68a on the sleeve. This arrangement causes the spindle 88 to follow axial movements of the sleeve 64 and yet permits rotation of spindle 68 without axial movement when it is turned through the pawls 65', 68 acting on ratchets El, 68, Figures 8, 9, in narrowing operations. The sleeve 64 is threadedly engaged within asleeve 68 secured to the frame part I8, with the result that when the ratchets 32B, 83B are selectively operated, the sleeve is moved axially carrying spindle til therewith to shift both narrowing stops 8i and 82 in the same direction. To maintain engagement with their actuating pawls on shifting of the sleeve 68, the ratchets 32B, 335; have wide tooth faces. Likewise the end of the the notched positioning disc 2 2? is widened to maintain engagement with the disc when sleeve 86 is shifted. Plunger it acts to prevent rotation of the sleeve 86 and ratchets 32B and 8318! thereon when the pawls 65 and d6 actuate spindle 88 for varying the relative positions of the narro rowing operations.

Shifting of the ZmocZt-over bits stops in, 82 for narof the ne bar is edected as 85 of the described above. As an alternative the knockover bits may be shifted with the needle bar thus obviating the necessity for clearing the needles from between the knock-over bits.

As illustrated in Figures 15 and 16, the knockover bit bed 85 has trunnions 88 journalled in the bracket like parts 8'! secured to the sinker bed 88, clearance being provided between the knockover bit bed proper and. the parts 81 to permit relative movement of the two beds. The link 98 for imparting the usual movements to the knockover bits is keyed to the trunnions 86. Lugs 8| depending from the bed 85 are adjustably connected by screws 92 between the bifurcations 93, 94 of brackets 85 secured to the needle bar II so that the latter in its knock-over bits I2 therewith.

During shifting of the needle-bar and knockover bits the roller 8I a (Figures 13, 14) carried by presser lever 8| remains in cooperative relation with'cam 88. The associated lever 83 is maintained-in proper relation therewith by a. bracket I88 fixed on needle bar shaft I5 and slotted at IM to engage and slide the lever on the usual stud 8Ib carried by lever EI and seated in the notch 83a of lever 83; The sides of the slot I8I in the bracket I88 closely engage the side faces of lever 83 to cause it to follow the needle bar without skewing relatively to lever 8|. The bracket slot IN is provided with vertical clearmovements carries the ance to permit the customary manual operations of lever 83.

Inasmuch as the lever I 8 for effecting vertical movements of the needles also partakes of the axial movements of the needle bar shaft I5, being secured thereto, the spindle of the associated cam roller I6a is secured at one end to a part I82 (Figures 13, 14) attached to the frame. Thus, the roller Ilia remains positioned to engage the related cam I6b while the yoke portion of lever I that supports the roller spindle slides thereon as the lever moves withthe needle bar shaft.

Shifting of the sinkers and dividers As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the sinker bed 88 and the jack bed I85 are supported by a member I86 which is slidably mounted on the longitudinally extending part I81, of the machine frame. The latter is provided 'with slots I88 through which lugs II8 on the supporting member I86 extend. The lugs H8 are provided with threaded apertures in which threaded portions MI of a shaft I i2 are engaged so that on rotation of the shaft the supporting member I88, together with the sinkers and dividers, etc., carried thereby, may be shifted in either direction longitudinally of the line of needles I8. The shaft H2 has secured thereto a pair of oppositely cut ratcheis M3 and lid, (Figure 18). The ratchets i118 and lid correspond to the ratchets 32 and 82 8 (Figures 9 and ii) and are similarly selectively controlled and operated from the main cam shaft by a reciprocatory member.

If desired, the knock-over bit bed 85 might be moved along with the sinker bed 88. However, as shown in Figure 16, provision is made to permit the sinker bed 88 to be moved with respect to the knock-over bit bed 85 because of the clearance provided between the latter and the membars 81 which support the latter from the sinker bed. Thus, the knock-over bit bed 86 may remain stationary when the sinker bed is shifted as the bracket members 81 slide on the trunnions knock-over bit bed.

Transferring the fabric is to disperse imperfect loops over a plurality of les as the fabric is mt and in this way align- A transfer bar i I5 (Figure 16) is provided with Wa a. point M6 for each needle so that when dipped men; t form such i and raised to take the entire fabric from the contra.stmg more pefiect loops m amacent aligned needles it may be shifted a desired numg g zg t 1 f th ber of needle spaces in either direction and again larged ga i j 2:: lgops 2 di d, and subse uentl raised, to lace the fa b zfc on adjacent need l es thus cha ging the i the dispel-510D of these loops effectmg relationship of the fabric 5318s to the needles shlftings of the needle bar or other shlftable part to the extent of one step, or two needle spaces,

sinkers, etc.

The dipping operations of the fabric transfer first to the right and then to the left, alternating 1n successive courses.

bar I I5 to take th nt'ire fabric from the needles and then re-eng gi it with other needles are mgtue 3 illustrates angther operating mode by efiected by the usually pr 0 de d lace point" effecting shifts of two steps to the left and three steps to the right in alternation while knitting ping mechanism, which being well understood Af is neither shown nor described herein. Howeach of Senes of courses tar ever, because this mechanism does not provide of the fifth course shifts of two steps to W fight for the varied shifting movements of the fabric of three steps to the left are efiected m along the line of needles that are contemplated 323 25;? g g g s f g zi r 3 35: 533% herein, the following special mechanism is utilized courgs t t to the the c cle for shifting the fabric transfer bar H5 and fabricv 5. '5: p m i b engaged by the points us thereof. The bar 5 n 8 mg m is supported by brackets I2I from the bar I20 forming part of the conventional dipping mecha ggf gt gs 3 2 3352 ig ggg g nism I22. A spring I21 acts against a collarI28 htted gi g Ste to left and two on bar I20 to maintain the end thereof engaged Ste 5 to m ht first five courses with a stop I23 mounted on an axially movable e I h stub shaft I24. The shaft 124 is provided with the sixth the ten t 6 oppositely acting ratchets. I25, I26operated by a' 2:5 i a 32 is? gfig pg g Z; reciprocable member similar to those provided i a te tn i g for shifting the needle bar, carrier-rod end-stops e s p o e e the shifting cycle repeated.

as descnbed above Y In Figures 5 to '1 the fabric or knitting elements When the fabric transfer bar 5 has been selected for shifting are shifted periodically after dipped and raised to take the fabric from the a de ed n her of courses illustrated as t] ee,

needles and retain it temporarily on the points IIB, the bar may be shifted either to the right or have. been In Flgmfe f .1; 1 left to a desired extent when bar I engages course i shuns m to e e W0 sto step shift to the right after the sixth course. p I23 during the second dipping operation, to Art .kmttin f th t mm d ht th align the points us with other needles (spaced g we th i d from those engaging the respective loops during 5mg be g s g j knitting of the previous course) for transferring subs an; t to s fine th use the fabric thereto. Upon actuation of ratchet Th ggfig 1 ng I25 the stop I23 is moved to the right pushing the teegth g a e th 1 ft bar I20 and hence points H0 in the same direction s g o e e poem" to the extent determined by the extent of ratchet at e z g d d b operation. Upon operation of ratchet I26 thev gum 6 a me pro stop I23 is moved to the leftpand spring I21 g f f i a 1 g i i gi 6 causes bars I20, IIS-and hence the fabric transfer g 36 on o owe a m :5 points IIB to follow its movement. te direction to the starting pomt before If desired, by subsequently shifting the needle ning.the next cycle As represented P shifts bar to the same extent to which the fabric was i g gg g ig z gz mg E g; g shifted but in the opposite direction it becomes :3: tn 1 ft aft g 2 unnecessary to shift the carrier-rod end-stops ee step 5. t to e e er e twelfth course, the cycle recommenclng with a because the fabric amwgh held by were! -one step shift to theright after the fifteenth needles is thus returned to its previous relation course is kniti the n carriers Figure '7 represents a procedure in which a T e Op fl number of shifts in one direction are followed by The mechanisms described above provide for a number of shifts man-opposite direction before shifti (in either direction to a desired extent) repetition of thecycle. The diagram indicates of the needles, with or without the knock-over one Step shift the right after'the third and bits, of the carrier-rod end-stops, of the narrow- I in; rod stops, of the sinkers and dividers, or of the ninth course, whereupon the direction of the entire fabric. In operation the shifting of swung l'eversed d one t Shuts to the any of these changes their'positio it relation are efiected after the twelfth and fifteenth to other parts of the loop forming and knitting courses and a two step shift to the left after the mechanism so that the relations betw th 1 eighteenth course. The cycle recommences after ter and the fabric loops may be varied after the tl e tee th cour wi a o e s p shift o the formation of each, or several, of the successive fi after e y-fi COHISE- courses. It will be understood fromthe foregoing desixth courses, a two step shift to the .right after As mentioned above, Figure 1 represents a sinkscription of the, apparatus that the single or mul er or needle line produced by'recurrence of imperti-step shifts which are effected may be of any fect loops in the same wale course after course. of the shiftable elements, such as the needles,

"The effect of variations of the relative positions the sinkers and dividers, or the fabric itself.

of the loops and parts of the knitting mechanism When it is desired to effect a shift ofmore than I course in Figure 3, or

one step, for example three steps or six needle spaces, several of the displaceable elements may be shifted in the same "or opposite directions at the same time after knitting of a course and prior to formation of the loops for the next course. As an illustration, to effect the three step, or six needle space, shift to the right after the second a similar movement to the left after the twelfth course in Figure 6, the needle bar might be shifted one step in one direction while the sinkers and dividers are shifted two steps in the opposite direction. This results in displacing a needle and the fabric loop thereon six needle spaces with respect to the sinkers and dividers adjacent which the needle was posi tioned during formation of the previous course. When the needles and sinkers and dividers are shifted relatively to each other (regardless of which of these is actually moved) their relative positions are so changed that when an im perfect loop is produced by a defective or improperly alined needle, or sinker or divider, etc., the imperfect loop will not recur in the same Wale when the next course is formed and knit. When the entire fabric is displaced from engagement with needles knitting a particular course to engagement with other needles prior to formation of the next course, a similar result is obtained. Here also the imperfect loop will appear in a different course regardless of whether the needle or a sinker or a divider is the defective element.

Where subsequently to transfer of the fabric the needle bar is shifted in the opposite direction to the same extent in order to eliminate shifting of the carrier-rod end-stops, the position of the wales of the fabric relatively to the sinkers and dividers is not changed. Accordingly, although an imperfect loop produced by a defective needle would occur in a different Wale, the loop would the same as in the previous course.

However, inasmuch as by proper designs of the cams controlling the shiftings, one set of elements may be shifted to a certain extent while another set is shifted at the same tent it is possible to relate the shiftings to each other so that in no case would imperfect loops recur in the same Wale of successive courses between the knitting of which the elements have been shifted.

It will be apparent that the shifting of the needle bar to the same extent as transfer of the fabric in the opposite direction is availed of in order to obviate the necessity of shifting the carrier-rod end-stops and narrowing rod stops also. The necessity of shifting the narrowing rod stops to maintain the narrowing points aligned with the fabric may also be obviated by restoring shifted parts, whether fabric or needles to the same position with relation to the narrowing points at the time of narrowingas they were in at the termination of the preceding narrowing. It is apparent that the diagrams of Figures 1 to '7 serve to indicate the relative positions of shifted parts with respect to each other, as well as to represent the Wale-positions of imperfect loops.

In Figure 6 as an illustration, the lateral spacing between dots for the first three courses and the dots a might indicate that the needles and carriers were shifted two needle spaces to the right with respect to the sinkers and dividers after the third course. twenty-fourth to twenty-seventh courses are in time to a different exseveral courses (Figure 20).

The dots a" for the the same Wale-relation as those for the fourth to sixth courses. Thus, the relation of the needles with fabric loops thereon and the thread carriers to the narrowing points is the same in the twenty-fourth to twenty-seventh courses as it was in the fourth to sixth courses and hence the shifted parts have been restored to the same relative positions. Therefore, a narrowing after any of the twenty-fourth to twenty-seventh courses would take place with the narrowing points in the same position with respect to the edges of the fabric as they were in for a narrowing after any of the fourth to sixth courses.

Accordingly, if when narrowings are to be effected the shifted parts are restored to any preferred position, such as is indicated by a, a", in which the relative positions of the parts are the same as at the end of the last narrowing, it becomes unnecessary to shift the narrowing rod .stops at the same time the needles and carrier rod end stops are shifted after several courses.

Forming a pattern As stated in the early part of this description a fabric having a patterned effect may be produced by wilfully introducing at certain points in a series, elements such as needles, sinkers or dividers which are defective in the sense that they are not exactly of the same size or condition of Wear as other elements. The introduction of such elements results in forming loops that are larger, or smaller, than those in adjacent wales. Then by varying the position of the fabric loops relatively to the loop forming and knitting elements, in any of the ways described above, a patterned effect is produced.

Figure 21 illustrates a series o-frsinkers and dividers of which alternate dividers have been replaced by others which are longer than those adjacent thereto. The sinkers S draw thread as indicated in dotted lines when the thread car: riers travel along a line of needles. Upon projection of the dividers in the usual manner, the sinkers are retracted somewhat and the dividers D-I, 3, 5 and 1, etc., take more thread than the intermediate dividers D-2, etc., with the result that the loops y in the corresponding wales are larger than those formed by sinkers and dividers which have not been replaced.

Figure 22 shows the operation when alternate sinkers have been replaced by sinkers longer than the remainder of the series. Consequently as the thread carriers travel along the line of needles, the sinkers S-l;--3, 5 and 1, etc., take more thread than the adjacent sinkers. Hence upon projection of the dividers, the sinkers S-l, etc., are not retracted to the same extent as the adjacent sinkers, and accordingly thev loops 2 are of larger size than the loops in the adjacent wales.

Having intentionally produced in certain wales loops that are of different size than those in adjacent Wales, a patterned effect may be produced by shifting the needles, the sinkers and dividers, or the fabric itself after knitting of each course (Figure 19) or periodically after formation of These figures illustrate a two-needle space shift of the elements or the fabric, but it is to be understood that other shifting distances may be adopted. Moreover, the parts which are replaced need not be but may be at other intervals within practical limits, as may be in practicing the invention.

each course or determined i 2,14o,9se 7 Similar results may be attained by replacing certain needles with others which are shorter todraw looser loops or longer to draw tighter o p a The shift diagrams of Figures 2 to '1, 19 and 20 are merely illustrative of a few ofthe many different degrees of shifting that maybe effected in order to carry into practice the underlying idea of varying the positions of the wales of the fabric with respect to the loop forming and knitting elements inthe period between knitting of the loops of one course and formation of the loops of the succeeding course in order to attain the desired result of preventing recurrence of im-' perfect loops in the same wale in course after course as the fabric is knit whether for the purpose of eliminating needle or sinker lines or to produce a patterned effect in the fabric.

It is also to be understood that the mechanisms shown and described herein for displacing certain parts of the knitting respect to each other mechanisms that may be employed in practicing the methods disclosed herein. Inasmuch as there are many variations that maybe made in the detailed construction of apparatus for carrying out the invention and in the steps embodiedin the methods, and in the sequence of the steps,

without departing from the invention, it is desired and intended that all such changes and variations be included within the scope 'of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of knitting hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine to break up lines in the wales of the fabric that are caused by defective knitting elements or improper cooperation thereof which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly'during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, determinedly' varying the positions of all the fabric loops relatively to the loop forming and knitting elements to distribute loops formed by defective elements through a plurality of wales of the knit fabric.

2. The method of knitting hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine to avoid the appearance of contrasting lines in the wales of the fabric that are caused by defective knitting elements or improper cooperation thereof, which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly dur-- ,ing knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, selectively shifting the fabric loops, the loop forming and the knitting elements longitudinally relatively to each other for determinedly varying their cooperative relationships to distribute loops formed by each loop forming element throu h a plurality of wales in the knit fabric.

3. The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, shifting the needles longitudinally with respect to the sinkers and dividers and correspondingly shifting the carrier-rod end-stops to maintain the carriers aligned with the fabric.

4. The method-of producing hosiery fabric and mechanism with are merely illustrative of I the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, shifting the needles and knock-overzbits longitudinally with respect to the sinkers and dividers; and correspondingly shifting the carrier-rod end-stops to maintain the carriers aligned with the fabric. I

5. The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, shifting the needles longitudinally with respect to the sinkers and dividers;

and' correspondingly shifting the carrier-rod end-stops and the narrowing rod stops to maintain the carriers and narrowing points aligned with the fabric.

6. The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like on a straight-type knitting machine which comprises; forming and'knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the' knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, moving the sinkers and dividers longitudinally of the line of needles to vary their positions relative to the fabric on the needles, moving the needles to I further vary the relative position of the fabric and sinkers, and moving the carrier-rod end-stops and narrowing stops in the same direction and to the same extent as the movement of the needles to maintain the thread carriers and narrowing points aligned with the fabric.

'7. The method of producing hosieryfabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric transferring the entire fabric from the needles engaged during knitting of a determined course to other needles spaced therefrom prior to knitting of the succeeding course, and shifting the carrier-rod end-stops in the direction and to the extent of transfer of the fabric to maintain the thread carriers aligned therewith.

8. The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric transferring the entire fabric a determined distance in one direction from engagement with needles knitting certain courses to other needles adjacent thereto prior to the j having a frame and a plurality'of loop forming and knitting elements including a series of needles and a plurality of sinkers and dividers; means associated with the needles and frame adapted to move the needles longitudinally of theframe to vary their positions with respect to thesinkers and dividers; supporting means for the sinkers and dividers movable longitudinally of the frame to vary their positions with respect to the needles; means for transferring a fabric from needles retaining the loops thereof to other needles spaced therefrom inc uding a loop transfe- 1 point engageable with each loop of the fabric; and selectively operable means for moving the needles, the sinkers and dividers, and the fabric transfer points longitudinally of the frame to vary the positions of the fabric loops with respect to loop forming and knitting elements.

-10. in a knitting machine of the Cotton type having a frame. a series of needles and corresponding series of sinkers and dividers; selectively operable means for moving the needles and sink ers and dividers relatively to each other longitudinally of said frame for dispersing among a plurality of wales the markings produced in the fabric because of defective co-operation between certain needles and the sinkers and dividers that normally correspond therewith.

11. In a knitting machine of the Cotton type; a frame; a series of needles mounted for movement longitudinally of the frame; corresponding series of sinkers and dividers; a series of knockover bits mounted for movement longitudinally of the frame; and means for simultaneously moving the needles and knockover bits along the frame to change their positions longitudinally 7 thereof with respect to the sinkers and dividers.

12. In a knitting machine of the Cotton type; a

' frame; a series of needles mounted for movement longitudinally of the frame; corresponding series of sinkers and dividers; a series of end stops controlling the travel of thread carrier rods;

means for moving the needles longitudinally of the frame to change their positions with respect to the sinkers and dividers; and means for correspondingly moving the series of carrier rod end stops to maintain the thread carriers aligned with the fabric on the needles.

In a knitting machine of the Cotton type; a frame; a series of needles mounted for movement longitudinally of the frame; corresponding series of sinkers and dividers; a series of end stops controlling the travel of thread carriers; a series of narrowing stops controlling the positions of narrowing points; means for moving the needles longitudinally of the frame to change their position with respect to the sinkers and dividers; and means for correspondingly moving the carrier rod end stops and narrowing end stops to maintain the thread carriers and narrowing points in alignment with the fabric.

14. In a knitting machine of the Cotton type having a frame, a series of needles, and corresponding series of sinkers and dividers; means for transferring a fabric from the needles retaining the loops thereof to other needles spaced therefrom including a loop transfer point engageable with each loop of the fabric; and means associated with said movable transfer points for moving them longitudinally of the frame to transfer an entire fabric from needles retaining the loops thereof to other needles spaced therefrom in the periods between knitting of certain courses and the formation ofthe loops for the next succeeding courses.

5. In a knitting machine of the Cotton type having a frame, a series of needles mounted for movement longitudinally of said frame, thread carriers for supplying thread to the needles, and sinkers and dividers co-operating with the needles to form loops from the threads supplied thereto; means for transferring a fabric from the needles retaining the loops thereof to other needles spaced therefrom including a loop transfer point engageable with each loop of the fabric; means associated with said loop transfer points for moving them along said frame to transfer an entire fabric longitudinally of the frame; and means for moving said needles along the frame tothe same extent but in the oppolite direction to the transfer movement of the fabric for maintaining the latter aligned with the thread carriers.

16 In a knitting machine of the Cotton type having a frame, a camshaft and a series of elements mounted for movement longitudinally of its period of engagement with said ratchet during reciprocation of said member for controlling the extent of movement of said elements along said frame; and means operable by said memher during reciprocation thereof for actuating said pattern means to vary the extent of movement of said elements along said frame.

The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses; selectively and determinedly relatively shifting the sinkers and dividers and the needles to vary their relative longitudinal positions for dispersing among a plurality of wales the markings produced in the fabric because of defective co-operation between certain needles and the sinkers and dividers that normally correspond therewith.

18. The method of producing on a "Cotton type knitting machine a hosiery fabric which is of substantially uniform visual appearance throughout and free from sinker lines or the like that impair the appearance and quality of the fabric comprising; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops for the next succeeding courses, moving the sinkers and dividers longitudinally of the line of needles to vary their positions relatively to the needles and the fabric loops engaged thereby for dispersing among a plurality of wales the markings produced in the fabric by defects in or improper cooperation between certain-needles and the sinkers and dividers that normally correspond therewith.

19. The method of producing fashioned hosiery fabrics and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; periodically fashioning the fabric by transferring loops thereof by means of narrowing points;

machine which comprises; forming and knitting the v cause forming and a plurality of successive courses; periodically fashioning the fabric by transferring loops thereof by means of narrowing points; repeatedly shifting the needles longitudinally with respect to the sinkers and dividers, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops of the next succeeding courses, to vary the positions of the needles with respect to the sinkers and dividers for dispersing among a plurality of wales the markings produced in the fabric by defective knitting elements or improper cooperation thereof; shifting the carrier rod end stops'correspondingly .to maintain the carriers aligned each fashioning of the fabric returning the needles and carrier rod end stops to the same positions with respect to the narrowing points which they occupied at the termination of the preceding narrowing.

21. The method of producing fashioned hosiery fabrics and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises; forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses; periodically fashioning the fabric by transferring loops thereof by means of narrowing points; repeatedly transferring the entire fabric from the needles engaged during knitting of determined courses to other needles spaced therefrom prior to the knitting of the succeeding courses; and before each fashioning of the fabric returning the latter to the same position with respect to the narrowing points which it occupied at the termination of the preceding fashioning.

22. The method of producing a pattern in a knitted fabric which comprises replacing a plurality of sinkers at certain intervals in a line thereof with sinkers which varyin length as compared with the length of the other sinkers in said line to cause forming and knitting of looms differing in size from but identical in construction with those formed by said other sinkers; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between knitting of certain courses and formation of the loops for the next succeeding courses, varying the positions of all the fabric loops with respect to the line of sinkers for disperslng said differently formed loops among a plurality of fabric wales.

23. The method of producing a pattern in a knitted fabric which comprises replacing a plurality of dividers at certain intervals in.a linethereof with dividers which vary in length as compared with the length of the other dividers in said line to cause forming and knitting of loops differing in size from but identical in construction with those formed by said other dividers; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between knitting of ,certain courses and formation of the loops for the next succeeding courses, varying the positions of all the fabric loops with respect to theline of dividers for dispersing said differently formed loops among a plurality of fabric wales.

24. The method of producing a pattern in a knitted fabric which comprises replacing a plu- 1 rality of sinkers and dividers at certain intervals in a line thereof with sinkers and dividers which vary in length as compared with the length of other sinkers and dividers in'said line to knitting of loops differing in size from but identical in construction with those formed-by said other sinkers and dividers; and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the with the fabric and before periods between knitting of certain courses and formation of the loops for the next succeeding courses, varying the positions of all the fabric loops with respect to the line of sinkers and dividers for dispersing said differently formed loops among a plurality of fabric wales.

25. The method of producing a pattern in a knitted fabric which comprises replacing a plurality of needles at certain intervals in a line thereof with other needles which do not conform to the average needle in said line to cause forming and knitting of loops differing from those formed by the average needle and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between knitting of certain courses and formation of loops for the next succeeding courses, varying the positions of all the fabric loops with respect to the line of needles for dispersing said differently v the appearance of contrasting lines in the wales of the fabric that are caused by defective knitting elements or improper cooperation thereof which comprises forming and knitting a plurality of successive courses, and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric and in the periods between knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops for the next succeeding courses transferring the entire fabric from the-needles engaged during knitting of a determined course to other needles in the line prior to knitting of the succeeding course.

27. The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like set forth in the preceding claim including the step of narrowing the fabric.

28. The method of producing hosiery fabric and the like on a straight type knitting machine which comprises forming and'knitting a plurality of successive courses, and repeatedly during knitting of the fabric, in the periods between the knitting of certain courses and the formation of the loops ofthe next succeeding courses, shifting the needles and the fabric longitudinally with respect to the sinkers and dividers to bring individual needles into cooperation with sinkers and dividers other than those with which said individual needles cooperated prior to the shifting movement thereof, to form loops for the next succeeding courses so that any loops varying in size or shape due to certain defective sinkers or dividers will be distributed among a plurality of wales, thereby avoiding formation of contrasting lines or bands normally formed by alignment of such varying loops.

29. In a knitting machine of the Cotton type, a series of sinkers and dividers, a series of needles shiftable longitudinally with respect to said series of sinkers and dividers for cooperation therewith in knitting fabric loops, and means for shifting said needles and the fabric between the knitting operation of certain adjacent courses for placing individual needles in cooperation with sinkers and dividers other than those with which the individual needles cooperated prior to the 

